Residents and visitors whose exit flights were canceled last week due to the unprecedented rains were spared overstay fines, Khaleej Times reported.
Kurt Cervales, a Dubai resident, found himself in a predicament when his scheduled flight on April 16 was disrupted by the heavy downpour. “I was already counting the days, worried about the overstay fines that got bigger by the day,” Cervales shared in the report.
Cervales, who had quit his job and was navigating a transition, had been on a 30-day grace period after the cancellation of his visa. His flight, initially rescheduled for April 17, faced another cancellation due to the adverse weather conditions.
Expecting to incur fines for overstaying, Cervales was pleasantly surprised when he reached the immigration counter. “I was told I didn’t have to pay any fine,” he recounted, expressing relief.
This sentiment was echoed by MRG Pinas Travel, a Dubai-based travel agency, whose passengers experienced the same leniency. “We were able to confirm that the fines were waived for our passengers whose flights were affected by the rains,” the agency stated.
The waiver extended to visit visa holders who were scheduled to depart on April 17 but faced delays until the following day.
A call center executive for the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) Dubai confirmed the waiver, stating, “Overstay fines were waived for travelers whose flights were canceled from April 16 to 18.”
However, she cautioned that beyond these dates, there hadn’t been any new advisory regarding fine waivers, highlighting the specificity of the exemption period.
